Broadband
OECD’s announcement that the USA has fallen in the international ranking of broadband penetration (see post of 24/04/07) had an immediate response at the FCC. Commissioner Prof. Copps (see FCC’s press release of 23/04/07) stated that this is a “national embarrassment” adding that “these rankings aren’t a beauty contest – they’re about our competitiveness as a country and creating economic opportunity for all our people” and reiterated a call for a National Broadband Strategy.
Also in relation with broadband, the FCC announced on 16/04/07, two measures related with the assessment of broadband penetration:
(a) A Notice of Inquiry to find out if broadband services are being deployed to all citizens in a “reasonable and timely fashion”;
(b) A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which attempts to structure and rationalize the collection of data that the FCC needs to set broadband policy.
DTV
The FCC started on 25/04/07 its third periodic review of the broadcast system conversion from analog to DTV with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking including a set of actions to facilitate this transition (e.g. restricting the grant of future extensions of time to construct digital facilities, offering expedited processing to stations applying for a construction permit for channels based on DTV, examine circumstances in which stations may reduce or terminate analog service, etc).
A Report and Order and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published by the FCC also on 25/04/07, is seeking more public discussion on the use of “700 MHz Band”, which is occupied by television broadcasters during the DTV transition, but when released may facilitate the provision of innovative services and of wireless broadband services for the public safety community, especially since establishing communications between emergency workers has been a clearly identified problem during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.
At the same date the USA regulator:
(a) Adopted an order requiring retailers to fully inform consumers when TV equipment being sold has only an analog tuner;
(b) Asked for comment on proposals to ensure all cable subscribers, including those with analog TV sets, are able to view must-carry television conditions on cable systems after the transition to DTV.
OECD’s announcement that the USA has fallen in the international ranking of broadband penetration (see post of 24/04/07) had an immediate response at the FCC. Commissioner Prof. Copps (see FCC’s press release of 23/04/07) stated that this is a “national embarrassment” adding that “these rankings aren’t a beauty contest – they’re about our competitiveness as a country and creating economic opportunity for all our people” and reiterated a call for a National Broadband Strategy.
Also in relation with broadband, the FCC announced on 16/04/07, two measures related with the assessment of broadband penetration:
(a) A Notice of Inquiry to find out if broadband services are being deployed to all citizens in a “reasonable and timely fashion”;
(b) A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which attempts to structure and rationalize the collection of data that the FCC needs to set broadband policy.
DTV
The FCC started on 25/04/07 its third periodic review of the broadcast system conversion from analog to DTV with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking including a set of actions to facilitate this transition (e.g. restricting the grant of future extensions of time to construct digital facilities, offering expedited processing to stations applying for a construction permit for channels based on DTV, examine circumstances in which stations may reduce or terminate analog service, etc).
A Report and Order and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published by the FCC also on 25/04/07, is seeking more public discussion on the use of “700 MHz Band”, which is occupied by television broadcasters during the DTV transition, but when released may facilitate the provision of innovative services and of wireless broadband services for the public safety community, especially since establishing communications between emergency workers has been a clearly identified problem during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.
At the same date the USA regulator:
(a) Adopted an order requiring retailers to fully inform consumers when TV equipment being sold has only an analog tuner;
(b) Asked for comment on proposals to ensure all cable subscribers, including those with analog TV sets, are able to view must-carry television conditions on cable systems after the transition to DTV.
